“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:12-14, NKJV)
In Roman times when Paul wrote his epistles, it was a Roman custom to hold a victory parade after every major victory of one of its armies over an enemy such as Carthage, or Greece, or Gaul. The parade would be led by priests burning incense, followed by the victorious general in a golden chariot pulled by four white horses. Behind him would be some of the enemy commanders in chains. The prisoners would be followed by musicians and then soldiers of the victorious army. The crowds would line the route of march cheering the general and throwing flowers. The victorious general would dismount the chariot where the Ruling Cosul, or Emperor of Rome, was stationed and the ruler would place on the victor’s head a wreath, in honor of the victory.
There is a great example of this scene in the 1962 version of the movie Ben Hur, played by Charlton Heston. Ben Hur, who had been a galley slave on the ship of the victorious general, had saved the general’s life when the ship went down. Then as the general was ready to start the parade, he invited Ben Hur to ride with him in the chariot as the celebration began.
This is the way I always envisioned what Paul was saying in the verse above. God has invited me up into his chariot to share in the victory that Christ has already won for me. WRONG! Wow, did I ever get that wrong!
Ron Dunn, an awesome pastor and evangelist, who went to his reward in 2001, preached a sermon many times entitled “Chained to the Chariot,” that explains in a much better way just what the Apostle Paul was trying to tell us.
Describing the victory parade Pastor Dunn said: “When the people saw their hero in that chariot, they would cheer and shout. They would throw garlands and confetti into the air. But when they saw the officers of that defeated army chained to that chariot and being dragged along behind, they would really go wild. This was a demonstration of the power of their hero. Paul was referring to that custom when he said, ‘Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession.’ In other words, Paul was Christianizing that custom. He was saying there was a time when he was at war with Jesus Christ. There were hostilities between God and Paul. But the Lord Jesus had conquered him, and he had yielded to Him in unconditional surrender. He had put Paul in the chains of His lordship, and he was chained to His chariot. And everywhere Paul went, Christ led him in His triumphal procession.
The New English Bible brings it out well by saying, ‘Thanks be to God, who continually leads us about, captives in Christ’s triumphant procession’ (2 Cor. 5:14) Paul is saying, ‘I came to Jesus Christ; He overcame me, and I yielded to Him in unconditional surrender. He placed my hands in the chains of His Lordship and chained me to His chariot. Now thanks be to God, everywhere I go I am being led in His triumphant procession.’
Paul was wanting everybody to know this before he details his apostleship, because when you get over to chapter 4 of 2 Corithians, he will speak about some bad things happening to him. He is saying in anticipation, ‘Now I’m going to tell you some things that some of you are going to think reveals failure and defeat. But I want you to know at the outset, thanks be to God, He always leads me in His triumph in Christ, and wherever I go, it may look like defeat to you; it may look like failure to you, but I am chained to His chariot, and that means that everywhere I go I am following in his own triumphant victory in Christ!”
‘But Paul;--how is it that you can say everywhere you go there's victory?’ Paul:’Because I’ve been conquered by Jesus Christ. I’m chained to His chariot, and I’m simply following along in the wake of His victory.’
The Fourfold Secret to a Victorious Life
If you want to be a conqueror, you must first be conquered.
If you want to be an overcomer, you must first be overcome.
If you want to be a master, you must first be mastered.
If you want to exercise authority, you must first submit to it.”
(Ron Dunn, His Life and Mission by Ron Owens, pp. 264-265)
Obviously, we need more humility and submission than comes naturally if we are to be used by God to advance His Kingdom. We need to be chained to His chariot and led where He leads us and not where we want to go. Everytime I get the idea that I should be riding up in the chariot, next to Jesus, telling Him where I would like to go, I need to remember that that is not the way it works. I can be led to victory only if I remain chained to Jesus's chariot and obedient to go where He leads!
PRAY
Lord, thank You so much for accepting my surrender to You and allowing me to be chained to Your victorious chariot!
Keep me In your procession, and use me to accomplish whatever You have ordained for me since the day I was born.
Oh how I praise You and thank You for giving me another day to serve In Your Army! Fill me with Your Spirit daily so that my natural desire will be to be obedient and sensitive to Your directions.
